Gear-shifting mechanism for automobiles.



F: C. SANFORD. GERR SHIFTING MECHANISMiE-QR AUTOMOBILES. I

APPLI'CATilON FILED APR. 10. m1,

Patefited Mg. 27, 1913 H 4 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

F. C. SANFORD. GEAR SHIFTING MECHANISM FOR AUTOMOBILES.

APPLICATION men APR. Io. I911.

Paten't ed Aug.27, 1918.

I 4 SHEETS--SHEET 2. i

EEK;

Quanta" .m a z a 3 Z? Y J F. c. SANFORD.

I GEAR SHIFTING MECHANISM'FOR AUTOMOBILES.

llli l m ll LP. III

APPiLICATION FILED APR-10. 19H.

F. C. SANFORD.

' GEAR SHIFTING MEQHANiSM FOR AUIOMOBILES.

APPLICATION FiLEDAPR. I0. I91]- Patented Aug. 27, BN8.

v a citizen of the United States, residin usefulgimprovements remove] and improved having connection with pedal whereby the selected STATES PATENT" OFFICE.

FRANK C. SANFORD; OF BBIDGEPDRT, QUNNECTICUT.

GEAR-SHIFTING MECHANISM FOR AUTOMOBILES.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Aug. 27, 191% Application filed April 10, 1917. Sc'rialflo. 180,988.

To all whom it may concern Be .it known that I, FRANK (h Sasrono, at thecity of Bridgeport, county of Fair eld, State of Connecticut, new and useful Improvements in Gear- Shifting Mechanism for Automobiles; and

do declare the following to be afull, clear,

transmission gears will have beenobtained. Further, the invention aims to provide an improved selecting-mechanism for positioningthe several elements ,whereby on op erating the clutch pedal the proper gear will be shifted in. the transmission.

The invention further resides and consists in thfeatures of construction and the arrangements and combinations of parts hereinafter described in detail and succinctly defined in the appended claims, reference .bcing had to the accompanying drawings whcrein- Figure 1 is a side elevation of the improved gear shifting mechanism showing its connection and association with the clutch and the clutch operating pedali Fig. 2 is a top plan view of the gear shift mg slightly ncutra position; 7

Fig. 3 a vertical section therethrough on line'33 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 4 is an end elevation looking at the mechanism on line -'l-t of Fig. 2; V

Fig. 5 is a transverse section through mechanism on line of Fig. 2:

Fig. 6 is a longitudinal section on line G(i of Fig, 3 showing the parts in a pos ition to start the throwing in of the gear; and

Fig. 7 is a similar view tion of the parts after the gear shifting operation.

Fig. 8 is a detail of the selector device.

advancml for returni ng all gears to the showing the relarompletion of the have invented certain the clutch is again thrown in. the desired'ispeed or relation between the mechani'snh par .s-e, with the actuator Referring to corresponding parts throughout the several views by like characters of reference, the numeral '1 designates the usual clutch operating pedal which is pivoted at 2 and has connection at 3 with the clutch part at whereby when. the pedal is depressed the clutch part 4 is, thrown out of operative engagement with itsucoiiperating clutch part 5, and when the pedal; is'ieleased the clutch parts'are moved into] operative relation by.

the clutch spring 6,in-' an obvious manner.

he gear shifting mechanism comprises a.

selector or actuator rod 7 which is slidably mounted in a frameS' a link 9 and rod, to the clutch pedal whereby on in the latter the rod will be bearings.

Gear shifting bars 11 are slidably disposed in the frame 8 and, while any number and "is connected by pushing arm 10, fixedly secured on Said slid in its. 4

of such bars may be'provided, there has been shown only four arranged in cooperating airs. The bars are in the form of rackmem )ers having opposing teeth 12 with which inter-mesh the teeth of a connecting, inter posed pinion 13 so that movement ofone bar, ofeach pair. in one direction will efi'ect opposite movement of the companion bar.

The lower bar of each pair carries a depending. fork or arm 14 for shifting the transmission gears (not shown) that are slidabl arranged on the shafts 15 and 16. The opposite outer sides of the frame are provided with grooves or guide ways to re ceive slidahly the bar returning or controlling members 17, each consisting of a shank 18 and a right angular abutment head 19 of suiiicient breadth to span both rack bars of. the adjacent pair. The heads 19 have their free opposing edges closely related and formed with complementary semi-circular cut-outs 20 through which the selector rod projects. The sliding movement of the controlling members 17 is defined b v' stop pins 21 positioned on the shanks for engag-.

mg the transversely arranged bin-s22.

wardly of the frame a second sprin jectedidog 24 is splined for relative s i movement forward by a coiled spring 25 secured the rod by a nut 25.

bar is provided with a head 26 having a forward cam face 27, the head being engaged by the dog 23 to effect the shift of a gear Each gear shifting steering post or mast 35 of the automobile and en rting said lever 34 on its upper end wit in convenient and eas touch. A segment 36 is provided to facilitate the positioning of the selector rod and to indicate the relation of the transmission gears, and segment being suitablymarked as at 37, for guidance in operating the lever.

Gear 28 'is providedwith a hub snpport 38 that is.journale d in the frameS an eld against displacement by a nut 39 and screw 40. The selector rod, 7 is formed with a longitudinal groove 41 in which.extends a feather 42 0m gear 28 to permit relative sliding only of the rod. The gear 29 1s preferably journaled in ,the frame concentric with one of the rack bars, while gear 80, with'its shaft 81, is supported in a bracket arm 430a the frame.

The operation of the mechanism is as follows: With the lever 34 engal'ged in the notch beneath the designation the selector rod will be disposed in neutral position wherein the dogs 23 and 24 are in a vertical plane between the] airs of rack bars, as -in Figs. 2 and 3. Int is connection it will be noted that the dogs are arranged on op site sides of the' selector. rod for reasons, ereinafter set forth. The dog 24 has its active fflce suliiciently 'wide to engage simultaneously both gear controlling members 17, .as depicted in Fig. 2. Thus, with the selector rod in neutral position. the clutch pedal is pushed in to throw out the clutch and, through link 9, pull the selector rod forward. 'lludog 24 engages both abutn'icnt. heads 19 and brings them to normal position, in

which position the gear shift arms 14 have moved all their gems into neutral or inop vratirv relation. The clutch pedal is then released to permit its spring 6 returning the solar-tor rod to normal position and the 'lulrll to operative position.

To start the automobile, the operating ll.\'(l' is moved to tho first or low spcedrindiratvd by the letter L in Fig. 8. Thus, through the selecting mechanism the dog 23 is turned counter clockwise into the path of llll llliltl 26 d the lower bar ll while the dog 2-1 is moved to engage the controlling lllt'llllK'l' 17 Mr the other pair ofrut'lt bars. (in pushing in the clutch pedal now, the dog 24 will hold thr head 19 against both of its rack bar to pisitircly hold lb:- connected Lr nQmXSSlO'H gEll's in neutral position durdog 24 to en 6 it isseenthat the (1 ing the shifting of the desired and predetermined transmission gears that are connected to the enga ed pair of rack bars, the lower one of whic is engaged by the dog 23 and carried forward with the selector rod.

Through the instrumentality of the connected inion 18, the up r rack bar is shifted ack, car ing the. ontrolling mem ber 17 with it simi ar to that shown in Fig. 7.

intermediate speed, the lever.84 is swun to engage in the notch designated I w ich movement will rotate the selector rod to bring the do 23 into a position to actuate the lower moi e the other gear eontrollin member in w ich connection it will be note tha'.t in its normal .position the dog 24 is sufliciently far back to en the' -abnor'- mallydis osedhead 19. indicated y dotted lines in Fig-herein it will be noted that the 'dog 24 en ges To change the relation of the gears for 76 bar of the other pair and the 80 tion is I! the rearwardly disposed head 19 prelimi riary to dog 23 coming into operation. From Fig.

plates its function, namely,.returning the meshed gears to neutral pos1tion,before' the dog 23 engageswith the 11%26; By this provision, the shifting of eset of gears 0g 24 pra ticallycominto meshing relation,: while the previously meshed gears are still operativ'elyjrelatemis guarded against and'positi-vely prevented.

To shift from intermediate to hi speed,

the lever 34 is moved to notch which brings the dog' 2a inline with as head of l no the upper'bar 11, directly over the intermediate speed bar.

To ,relate the transmissionversing the automobile, the leveris moved gears for reinto notch R, this arran ing'theIselector. 106

for coiipcration with the low speed bar;

Of course, after the selector has been positioned, the clutch pedal must be pushed in ar 11 over the to com late the shiftin o'eration andllo P {-1 H P 1 when the pedal is rclcaset 1e spring 6 will return the several parts tonorma] position. Should the selector be turned before it has completely returned to normal sition, the

log 23 will merely ride over t c cam face 115,

27 of any head which may bc in its path,

and the dog 2-1 yield in passing through the rut out 20.

While the lllthfillt mechanism, has lit-re been shown in ronni-ction with automobiles,

itiswry obvious that the same is capable of many cmlmdmicnls employingnsmiss ion gears. The operation is simple and safe, l 'l'-.

quiring only a preliminary -mm'iipulation of."

the lever 34, Wllit'h is arranged within con; I25

wnii-nl rent-h beneath the steering wheel and is operable with little exertion as compared with the C mmon form of low-r shift now i-mploved. The throwing out -f the rlutrh is followed, in the same operation, by the shifting, proper, of the gears, and in this connection it will be observed that the clutch is rendered inoperative before the sclcctor engages the head of the selected .l-Vhat is claimed is:

1. In a gear shifting mechanism, a support, spaced independently movable gear shifting bars thereon, common operating means for the bars, and "means for holding the one bar inoperative by and during movement of the first means to move the other.

" bar.

'2. In a gear shifting mechanism, a sup port, spaed pairs of gear shiftrng'barsslldable thereon, means for selectlvelysllding any bar to operative position, andmeans operableby and during the operation of the first means'ito hold the in normal position.

341a a gear shifting mechanism, a. support, gear shifting niembers slidablc thereon and projecting therefrom at each end means aelectitelyengageable with-the members at one end'to imove them too rative position,

andjoth'er"ineanslengageab c with the mem'-' be'rsat'theii' op positeends toreturn them to nonnal position; 4.. In a gear shifting I a-plnrality of gear shifting bars,= a ,selector rod' for: engaging any predetermined bar, means'for operating 1; mod, and means ope'rablebyfthe selector, and-movable rela m'al ,osition. $5

tive thereto for returning the bars to nor- 5. i n ajgear shifting mechanism,, a support, gear shifting members'slidable thereon and; projecting therefrom at each end, a rotatabl'e" rod slidabl through the support, a, dog carried by the rod on one sideof; the

supporfitoengage the adjacent ends'of said member}; toopci'ate them, antl means ear-Y ried by the i-od onthe other side of the sup port to engage the eorresponding'ends of said members toreturn them to normal position.:

6. a gear shifting mechanism, a frame, a plurality of gear shifting harm-means connecting" the bars in pairs and for effecting is operated to shift a gear, means formovmg the bars selectively,

normal position. p y

7. In a. gear shrftlng meclnmlsuaaframe,

' a plurality of gear shifting bars, means connecting the bars in pairs for simultaneous ti'vely operatin the bars, the bars of one pair in normal position, and other m'cansopamblc by the second means for cooperating with the third means for returiringthe gears to normal position.

bar. I

bars ofithe other pair I I mechanisnaa frame,

on one-end of each ransom rod and means operable means and movable but opposite movements, means for selec means for holding n a gear shifiing mechanism, a frame,

a .a plurality of gear operatin bars slidable therein, a selector rod slidab e in the frame and carrying a'spring actuated dog for engaging with and operating any one of the bars,.a'nd means operable by the rod on movement thereof to operate a bar for returning any operated bar to normal position.

9. In a ear shiftingmac'hanism, a frame, a gear s iftin'g bar slidably supported thereby, a selector rod arranged on the frame for. movement to actuate the bar, means for o'peratin the rod, and means operable by the and slidable -on"tho frame for returningthe'bar to normal position. I

10. In a gear shifting mechanism,a frame,

a pluralit of pairs ofg'ear shifting, bars slidable t ereon, a oonnection betweenthe bars of each pair wherebyjon movement of one barithe com anion bar wvillbe moved in an opposite I on one end ofa'achgba'r, a eelectorro'd frot'a-j' table and slidable onfthef famefa'spring pressed-do ion *the '-forQfengaging with j the bar h'ea' s 'sel'ectively,and a ma darin};

i r returning a pressed dog on therod fo rods to'normal positioni". V y

11. In'a gear shifting mechanism, a

a plurality of pairs "of Pgoaif shifting V s'lida'ble thereomfaconnectioh he bars of each pair whereby on' 'ntovernentof" one bar the com anion-barawill be moved' in the opposite" irection," aI-head provided tablzegngslidablfi pre ogont e. or'.e

the bar heads Selective] a re member slrdable ongthe fla e-mam pair of bars and havin "i-aipartfex across the paths of the a d'acent, bars on gagingthe opposite-ends ,t ereof and means" underthe control of the rod: for engaging the member to return the bars v to normal position andrctain them in said position. 12. In a gearshifting'm'echamsm, a name;- spaeed pairs of gearshi'fti ng bars thereonf nmanfconnecting thq'corhptinent", bars"of h each pair wherebv movement of a bumin one direction will effect opposite movemontof the companion", bar, hefltlfiffon the ,foiivard" ends of the bars, means enghg'eablez vvith'tho opposite ends of. both bars or eaeh fpair for returning the latter to normal lpositiorifand means for opcratin -tlie'.barsaml thedastaforesaid mcans,-sa|d second means operating one ofthe'first meanson movement of.

the. former to engagelheheadof one of thebars uncontrolled "by the specified first means. r y i 13. In a gear ahiftingmechanismm frame, spaced pairs of gearshifting bars thereon, means connecting the component bars of each pair whereby movement of a bar inona direction will efiect o posite movement of the companion bar, the

iraction,ja head provided" 7 frame being provided with guideways, a controlling "vided withguideways, a'jgear contro ing member for ,each' pair of bars 0 1 a shank slidable in the V I,

and-an interned head on t e for5engaging the bars, the heads of said gear-con '0 I a second dog ca-rried i the companion; bar, t e frame being 'ro-' member for each pair of bars consistin of a shank slidable in the respective i ewe;

and an. angularly related head on t e s with which the bars engage, means for selectively operating thebars, an other means olperable by the second means for en ging t e head of one gear controlling mem r on movement of said second means to operate a bar of another air.

14. In a gear shift means connecting the component bars 0 each pair whereb movement of a bar in one direction-will e ect o posite movement of ire" lector for engaging an{- ro'drto ncttiitc flit,

' eratin f in nfltechaigsm, a hffame, s aced airsp, 'rsi ing arst reon' p p gea "and a head onthe shank I engaging the heads selectivelyjo. return the bars to normal position, and means for opthe selector.

, 17. n a gear shiftingmechanism, a frame,

spaced pairs of gear shiftin'g bars thereon,

means 'connectin the component bars of each pair where y' movement of a bar in one direction will efiect op I 'te movement n of the companion bar, the

vided with =-guideways,' a gear control in member, for each pairof bars consisting 9' f a shank slidable in the respective guideway or engaging the bars, a,selector' slidable on the tween the 4 for engaging an rod to actuate it, asecand dog moun on thea'elector for limited mgi the second dog in its, forwardlpositionji an means for. operating theselector, r shifting-mechanism-,-'a sup;

n M. T. Lonoomr.

me being ro- 18. In a membersgopiwosing one another 3 port, spaced; pairs .of gear U shifting hav n eomplem'enta cut 0uts,'a'slidable ai id 'gf slidable thereon,- means for moyi "either rotatale selector interposed bar of one paiifto'operative, 't1on,;and 3| thetpairsof bars on the'fra neand rheans yieldablyconnecte'd tot egfirst through the cutouts between the rheadaffafff or returning and holding the other pair 'of' dog on the rod 'engageable w-ith. e therhead-"i bars in normal position. F

v forireturning-the respective-bans tozfnormal 19. In a gear-shiftingmechanism fa 3' I position, meahsgcarnedbytherodfor selec port, spaced'pairs' of -bars-..' l. tively. e !,,J gjgjany bar, and lidablethereon',w a selectorl slidable andfro- 4 connect ng e. arsto aztran smlsmo gen tatabl eon the-"an rtforfoperating fhe spaced pa1rsof -gear;-.sh1ftmgbarethereon;Jselector to operated therebypre'limiii'ary' Infill-b8 .QQBAeotgggthe'k componentybars to the actuation of-the newl bar one du ectlon efiect top te mlo. m ort space pairs'of gear's hifting f the smmgw m h nth ms Mabl thereon, a e c l iblfi' n v1ded.w1th gmdeways,-' .a gear cputgo tatable on the support for'operating the bars.

I member ionc'ach palr of harscopslstni'glo selectively, and: -a 'ba'rreturn.in member a shankslidahle 1n ther 'e'ctrie gl ldew lidably and yieldably carried and a head on theshank orengag ng-th 'lectori'to bei-operatcd thereby preliminary To] bars, a selector .fiplable=on"their-lune be the actuation -of thenwly bar, tween P of 1- p d 1 69511? "Zsaid bar-returning member operatin to (I on the selector, one fOI'EDgEgIII'g thG 'bar ,jturn[ all bars tonbrma'l position 'w en i to operate the same and the Tether for en -T selector.is-moved into aneutral sition'ir "3 1 gaging the head of=acontrollingflmeinben'l '21. Ina ea'nshift' mechanism, asap- 11. to return Q t and ngjfi l il port, gear iftin me 1i xersslidablethereom 1 normal position; .1;; f an actuator.inem r,- means c r'ried'by lo 16. In a gear shifting mechan smmframe latter to engage-an; ge'ar's "ngTmember- '1' spaced pairs ofgear shlftlii'g bars-thereon for moving thejsame to o erativepositi on,

means-pomectmg {the componenflbars oi. and other means arranger? 0n the actuator Ill. each pair whereby'rmovenie'ntoia bar IYDFQIIIQ: o returnan'operated gear shifting member 1; direction w ll efiect o poslte movement-"of to inoperative position in advance of said 55 the comp an1on bar,-t eaframe" being j r0- ;first means becoming operative andduring.

, vided with gIIIdBWB-XS, fa gear control ng,.,move ment,of the actuator to render the first member for each palr offbars-fcons sting means operative. IQO' of a shank shdable m theres tive guide-f In testimon .whereof I ailix my signature 1 1 glaybarid a h a cicgl th dshfinkforifingaging indpresence o a witness; ea c ars,as e rs'ae'on" efram e between the-pairs of bars,"a"dog qnlthels'e I FRANK i 

